FIA issues Technical Directive to combat porpoising, cites driver health

Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has issued a Technical Directive in a bid to improve driver safety following a spate of recent comments.

The phenomenon has been present in Formula 1 this season owing to the ground effect that has returned following the overhauled technical regulations.

The predicament has affected some teams more than others, with Mercedes notably impacted, particularly at bumpier circuits that have lengthier full-throttle sections.

Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix the FIA has taken action in the interest of safety.

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In a statement it outlined that “it is necessary to intervene to require that teams make the necessary adjustments to reduce or to eliminate this phenomenon.

“A Technical Directive has been issued to give guidance to the teams about the measures the FIA intends to take to tackle the problem. These include:

1. Closer scrutiny of the planks and skids, both in terms of their design and the observed wear
2. The definition of a metric, based on the car’s vertical acceleration, that will give a quantitative limit for acceptable level of vertical oscillations. The exact mathematical formula for this metric is still being analysed by the FIA, and the Formula 1 teams have been invited to contribute to this process.”

The FIA outlined that a technical meeting will be held with teams in order to “define measures that will reduce the propensity of cars to exhibit such phenomena in the medium term.
 
“The FIA has decided to intervene following consultation with its doctors in the interests of safety of the drivers.  

“In a sport where the competitors are routinely driving at speeds in excess of 300km/h, it is considered that all of a driver’s concentration needs to be focused on that task and that excessive fatigue or pain experienced by a driver could have significant consequences should it result in a loss of concentration.  

“In addition, the FIA has concerns in relation to the immediate physical impact on the health of the drivers, a number of whom have reported back pain following recent events.”